After dinner, everyone was busy. While the magic stones had been sold, there were still monster materials to sort. As a thank-you, the adventurers from the expedition had given Roy nearly half of the gemstones from the Jewel Tree.
Lyu was sorting through them, deciding what to sell and what to keep for smithing. The Amphisbaena's Dragon Liver, for instance, could produce special fuel indefinitely as long as it remained "active"—a dream material for blacksmiths worth at least 10 million Valis. Thanks to his [Luck] boost, Roy had obtained it on his first try.
Roy left the materials to Lyu and went to Astraea's room. He knocked softly. "Lady Astraea, I have something to discuss."
Astraea opened the door, fresh from her bath. She wore casual clothes that revealed her porcelain skin. She was breathtakingly beautiful, with features like a jade carving and deep blue eyes as clear as water. Roy dithered for a moment, dazed by her presence.
Astraea smiled. "What is it?"
Roy coughed and followed her inside. He took a deep breath and laid everything out—the destroyed walls, the Enhanced Siren created by the Freya Familia, and the suppression of the information regarding the Floor Boss.
As he spoke, Astraea's smile vanished. A cold, murderous intent flickered across her gentle face. She knew Roy wasn't lying. To have her Familia members targeted like this made her blood boil.
People often forgot she wasn't just a fragile Goddess; upholding "Justice" required force. In the Heavens, she was one of the few female deities who personally took up the sword. The Astraea Familia oath—"Swear upon the sword and wings of justice"—put the sword first. The sword represented punishment; the wings represented salvation.
When she looked back at Roy, her gaze softened. Despite the danger, Roy had brought everyone back and defeated the Floor Boss. He was even more exceptional than she thought. And she was touched that he had opened up to her instead of acting on his own like he did with the Apollo Familia.
"What do you intend to do?" she asked.
"I'm going to go after Goddess Freya!"
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Starting with an Elf (305 Chapters, Ongoing)
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Astraea sighed at the immediate answer. Her follower, who had awakened a skill like Blood for Blood, truly couldn't stand taking a loss. If he took a punch, he had to hit back—even if the opponent was the strongest Familia in Orario.
Even when Alise and the others were still around, they wouldn't have stood a ghost of a chance against the Freya Familia.
Roy spoke with deep meaning. "Lady Astraea, I intend to deal with Goddess Freya—not the Freya Familia."
Astraea was momentarily stunned. To an outsider, the two were synonymous, but in reality, they were distinct entities. "It seems you have a plan and haven't let rage cloud your judgment," Astraea remarked with admiration. Maintaining composure at all times was one of Roy's greatest strengths.
"What do you need me to do?"
"If Goddess Freya asks to see me, block her. Do not let her meet me face-to-face!" Roy replied, his expression wary. Once Freya unleashed her Charm, no secret, conspiracy, or scheme could remain hidden from her.
Astraea shot Roy a look. So that was why he hadn't acted first and reported later; he needed her to serve as a shield against Freya. This was no small task. Although Freya's divine powers were sealed in the lower world, she could still use her Authority. Her Authority of Beauty was top-tier even in the Heavens, and Freya stood unique even among other goddesses of beauty. Any mortal child who caught so much as a glimpse of her—or even caught a whiff of her scent—would be charmed instantly.
Her "Beauty" transcended the concept of sight; even a blind person would fall under her spell. If Freya fully unleashed her Authority, not even Great God Ouranos could resist her.
Back in the Heavens, the gods feared the havoc she could cause and usually assigned a "Virgin Goddess" to monitor her, as they were immune to her charm. However, Freya's power was so potent that only the Three Virgin Goddesses could truly restrain her. Athena and Artemis were not in Orario, and Hestia had not yet descended.
If Freya decided to flip the table and charm the entire city, no one could stop her. At that point, all schemes would be crushed by the juggernaut of her Authority. But this didn't mean Astraea was afraid. As a deity, she might indulge in pleasure or act on a whim, but she knew no fear.
"Do as you see fit. That is your Justice," Astraea smiled, her deep blue eyes seeming to pierce through to Roy's very essence.
"Thank you, Lady Astraea!" Roy replied gratefully. He didn't tell her the specifics of his plan; if she didn't know the details, Freya wouldn't be able to detect any lies from her. Besides, what other God in Orario would have the guts to unconditionally support such a dangerous gamble?
As night fell, Roy donned the Phantom Mask. It looked somewhat like the glasses used in a superhero transformation, but it was pitch black like iron, with wing-like extensions on both sides. The moment he put it on and looked in the mirror, his body became distorted and blurred, as if he were perpetually pixelated. His voice changed too. Even his magic—the lightning he summoned—would be distorted into other elements like fire, water, or wind in the eyes of observers.